"Our thoughts & prayers are with the people of Sydney & Australia. We stand shoulder to shoulder with them during these testing times", Modi said in a late night tweet.

In a separate post on the micro-blogging site this morning, he condemned as 'inhuman' the hostage crisis and said he prays for everybody's safety.

"The incident in Sydney is disturbing. Such acts are inhuman & deeply unfortunate. I pray for everyone's safety," the PM tweeted.

At least 15 people, including two Indians, were on Monday taken hostage at a popular cafe in Sydney in south-east Australia by a man of Iranian origin. An Islamic flag was seen hanging from the window of the cafe.

However, the 17-hour hostage drama ended with the police storming it, reportedly resulting in two deaths but the two Indians, including a techie, were among the hostages who escaped unharmed.